From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on Saturday inspected ongoing road construction projects in Kabusa/Ketti and Kabusa/Takushara, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The promised their inauguration by May 2025, marking President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary.
During the tour of the 10.5-kilometre Kabusa/Ketti and 9.8-kilometre Kabusa/Takushara roads, Wike stressed the focus on satellite towns.
“The emphasis Mr. President has always made is that we should not only concentrate in the cities. We should take development to the satellite towns. You can see how happy the residents were in Ketti in particular, which is a heavily populated area,” he told journalists.
Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, reported Wike’s praise for AMAC Chairman Christopher Maikalangu. “I want to commend the Chairman of AMAC who drew our attention to these two very important roads. But for him, probably we may not have taken our attention to this place,” Wike said. He expressed satisfaction with the contractors’ progress, stating, “I’m happy with what the contractors are doing and hopefully, by the end of May, these two roads will be inaugurated as part of the second year anniversary of Mr. President. So, we are very happy with what we have seen.”
Wike highlighted the roads’ role in reducing rural-urban migration. “With this road being done, you don’t need to say let us go and stay in the city. From here to the city is not up to 10 minutes, and that’s what road network brings. It will open up the entire place. You will see people will like to come and build houses here instead of staying in the city that appears to be more expensive,” he explained.
Additionally, Wike reaffirmed his commitment to building schools in the area. “I remember that when we came here to flag off these projects, I promised them that I will build schools, which is still on my table, and I’m waiting for the passage of the 2025 statutory budget for us to commence. So, I think we are happy, and I know the people are happy,” he stated.
Responding to requests for internal estate roads in Lugbe, Wike clarified, “The estate belongs to the Federal Housing Authority. They should be able to take care of their estate. The roads we should do are roads that will open up the entire city… Let us open up the areas that link up to the major cities and the satellite towns before we begin to talk about building roads within estates.”
Finally, Wike extended Easter greetings, saying, “Just like what Mr. President has always preached, Nigerians should be united, Nigerians should work together for the interest of Nigerians. So, I use this particular period to wish everybody Happy Easter and be assured that the promises we have made, by the grace of God, we are going to keep them.”